Luke 18
1 Jesus told them this story to encourage them to pray at all times, and not to become discouraged.
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and never despair.
2 “Once there was a judge in this particular town who didn't respect God or care about anyone,” Jesus explained.
“There was,” he said, “in a certain town a judge, who had no fear of God nor regard for people.
3 “In the same town lived a widow who time and again went to the judge, saying, ‘Give me justice in the case against my enemy!’
In the same town there was a widow who went to him again and again, and said ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.’
4 For a while he didn't want to do anything about it, but eventually he said to himself, ‘Even though I don't respect God or care about anyone,
For a time the judge refused, but afterward he said to himself ‘Although I am without fear of God or regard for people,
5 this widow is so annoying I'll make sure she receives justice. Then she won't wear me out by her coming to see me so often.’
yet, as this widow is so troublesome, I will grant her justice, to stop her from plaguing me with her endless visits.’”
6 Listen to what even an unjust judge decided,” said the Lord.
Then the Master added, “Listen to what this iniquitous judge says!
7 “Don't you think that God will make sure his chosen people receive justice, those who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will make them wait?
And God – won’t he see that his own people, who cry to him night and day, have justice done them – though he holds his hand?
8 No, I tell you, he will give them justice quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will he find people on earth who trust in him?”
He will, I tell you, give them justice soon enough! Yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
9 He also told this story about those who are so sure that they are living right, and who put everybody else down.
Another time, speaking to people who were satisfied that they were religious, and who regarded everyone else with scorn, Jesus told this parable –
10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
“Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed to himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—cheats, criminals, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way – ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – thieves, rogues, adulterers – or even like this tax-gatherer.
12 I fast twice a week, and I pay tithe on my income.’
I fast twice a week, and give a tenth of everything I get to God.’
13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He wouldn't even look up to heaven. Instead he beat his chest and prayed, ‘God, please be merciful to me. I am a sinner.’
Meanwhile the tax-gatherer stood at a distance, not venturing even to raise his eyes to heaven, but he kept striking his breast and saying ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
14 I tell you, it was this man who went home right in God's sight and not the other. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, while those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
This man, I tell you, went home pardoned, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, while everyone who humbles himself will be exalted.”
15 Parents were bringing their infants to Jesus to have him bless them by his touch. When the disciples saw what was happening, they tried to stop them.
Some of the people were bringing even their babies to Jesus, for him to touch them; but, when the disciples saw it, they began to find fault with those who had brought them.
16 But Jesus called the children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said. “Don't prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.
Jesus, however, called the little children to him. “Let the little children come to me,” he said, “and do not hinder them, for it is to the childlike that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn't welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
I tell you, unless a man receives the kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all.”
18 One of the rulers came to Jesus and asked him, “Good Teacher, what do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
And one of the leaders asked Jesus this question – “Good teacher, what must I do if I am to gain eternal life?” (aiōnios g166)
19 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good, only God.
“Why do you call me good?” answered Jesus. “No one is good but God.
20 You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”
You know the commandments – Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not say what is false about others, Honor your father and your mother.”
21 “I've kept all these commandments since I was young,” the man replied.
“I have observed all these,” he replied, “from childhood.”
22 When Jesus heard this he told the man, “You still lack one thing. Go and sell all you have, give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!”
Hearing this, Jesus said to him, “There is one thing still lacking in you; sell everything that you have, and distribute to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven; then come and follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very wealthy.
But the man became greatly distressed on hearing this, for he was extremely rich.
24 When he saw his reaction, Jesus said, “How difficult it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
25 It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
It is easier, indeed, for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”
26 Those who heard this wondered, “Who can be saved then?”
“Then who can be saved?” asked those who heard this.
27 Jesus replied, “What is impossible in human terms is possible for God.”
But Jesus said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”
28 Peter said, “We left everything to follow you!”
“But we,” said Peter, “we left what belonged to us and followed you.”
29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus told them, “anybody who leaves behind their home, wife, brothers, parents, or children for the sake of God's kingdom
“I tell you,” he answered, “that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
31 Jesus took the twelve disciples aside, and told them, “We're going to Jerusalem, and all that the prophets wrote about the Son of man will be fulfilled.
Gathering the Twelve around him, Jesus said to them, “Listen! We are going up to Jerusalem; and there everything that is written in the prophets will be done to the Son of Man.
32 He will be handed over to the foreigners he will be mocked, insulted, and spat upon.
For he will be given up to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted and spat on;
33 They will flog him and kill him, but on the third day he will rise again.”
they will scourge him, and then put him to death; and on the third day he will rise again.”
34 But they didn't understand anything Jesus told them. The meaning was hidden from them and they didn't grasp what he was talking about.
The apostles did not comprehend any of this. His meaning was unintelligible to them and they did not understand what he was saying.
35 As Jesus approached Jericho a blind man was sitting beside the road begging.
As Jesus was getting near Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside, begging.
36 He heard the crowd going past, so he asked what was happening.
Hearing a crowd going by, the man asked what was the matter;
37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
and, when people told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing,
38 He called out, “Jesus, son of David, please have mercy on me!”
he shouted out, “Jesus, Son of David, take pity on me!”
39 Those at the front of the crowd told him to stop shouting and be quiet, but he only shouted louder, “Son of David, please have mercy on me!”
Those who were in front kept telling him to be quiet, but he continued to call out the louder, “Son of David, take pity on me!”
40 Jesus stopped and told them to bring the blind man to him. As he came over, Jesus asked him,
Then Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. And, when he had come close up to him, Jesus asked him,
41 “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, please, I want to see,” he pleaded.
“What do you want me to do for you?” “Master,” he said, “I want to recover my sight.”
42 “Then see!” Jesus told him. “Your trust in me has healed you.”
And Jesus said, “Recover your sight, your faith has delivered you.”
43 Immediately the man could see. He followed Jesus, praising God. Everyone there who saw what happened also praised God.
Instantly he recovered his sight, and began to follow Jesus, praising God. And all the people, on seeing it, gave glory to God.
